Electric immersion water heater for washing machines



1958 J. P. STAUDT 2,8 7,

ELECTRIC IMMERSON WATER HEATER FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed May 15, 1956 p 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 INVENTOR.

JEAN PIERRE STAUDTI H62. I I Z/%WK% ATTORNEY J- P. STAUDT Aug. 12, 1958 ELECTRIC IMMERSON WATER HEATER FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed llay 15, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JEAN PIERRE STAUDT.

A TTdRNE 7.

United States Pate "roe Patented Aug. 12, 1958 ELECTRIC IMMERSION WATER HEATER FOR WASHING MACHINES Jean Pierre Staudt, Luxembourg, Luxembourg, assignor to Electro Radio Osch, Luxembourg, Luxembourg, a corporation of Luxembourg This invention relates to improvements in immersion water heaters comprising an electric heating resistor disposed in a casing or shell, the form and dimensions of which are adapted for use in a particular form of washing machine known as the domestic type, the immersion heater comprising if desired a central heater for linen or only for water.

By means of such improvements it is possible according to the intended purpose of use:

(a) To strengthen and regulate the so-called thermosiphon effect aimed at for sprinkling the linen;

(b) To secure and centre an agitator;

(c) To protect the electric feed resistor comprising the heating turns and the linen against the rotation of the blades or beaters, as also to facilitate the agitation of the washing water in the lower part.

For these purposes, there may be provided an apparatus comprising four compartments instead of two as heretofore used, that is to say, the apparatus is then characterized in that the body or shell is always formed of two concentric compartments forming two bells fitted one into the other and so turned that their common ring-shaped base forms the cover.

The accompanying figures, which show diagrammatically a constructional form of the subject of the present addition, will enable the features described and further possible features to be readily understood, the said features being described by way of non-limitative example, since the invention is applicable to the device itself and to the method of operation which arises therefrom and may be carried into effect in many alternative ways with different forms, dimensions or proportions.

In these figures:

Fig. 1 shows the device laid fiat, in vertical axial section and in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of that half of the device which is shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section along the line a-a (Fig. 1) shown in plan view;

Fig. 4 is a similar view, but taken along the line l1b (Fig. 1), divided axially;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a form of construction of the hook comprising an insulating grip which may be employed to enable the user to lift and carry the device; and

Fig. 6 is an clevational view of the positioning of the same hook of the preceding figure in a flange provided above the cover of the compartment 1.

It is proposed in accordance with the present invention:

(1) To extend the internal open compartment upwards and to close off, in the form of a dome, its upper part in which a concentration of steam may be produced above the sprinkling level, which dome may comprise a strap permitting of lifting the device out of the washing water by means of a suitable insulated handle or of centering the axis of an agitator in a sleeve. The steam communicates through one or more orifices with the interior of the concentrating apparatus proper, the said 2 orifices also permitting the discharge of the air in an upward direction when the apparatus is placed in the water within the washing machine.

(2) To form in the upper part of the ring-shaped compartment of the apparatus a compartment for concentrating and regulating the hot water and the steam conducted through vertical rising tubes from the lower part of the apparatus, while on the other hand the said closed compartment comprises in its periphery sprinkling apertures situated at an appropriate level, through which the water is projected over the linen in the course of the heating, it being proposed to utilize the thermo-siphon eifect producing the rising of the water, the steam being fed to the upper part of this compartment through communication orifices formed, above the level'of the sprinkling orifices, in the periphery of the first internal compartment and in a jacket, within which there is disposed the tube of the helical electric resistor, which is thus protected.

The said upper concentrating and regulating compartment is laterally partitioned by the frusto-conical pe riphery of the casing, at the top by the cover and at the bottom by a base, both of which are in the form of concentric rings and are therefore horizontal during use. The tube protecting the resistor is disposed vertically or at a slight incline from a certain height above the said 'base and as far as the bottom of the apparatus, and the tubes for raising the water by the thermo-siphon efiect also open vertically at a certain level in the said compartment, through the base of the said compartment, to which they are secured, for example by soldering. An inspection plug is preferably provided in the upper cover for cleaning purposes.

(3) Disposed between the compartment provided in accordance with (2) and the base of the apparatus formed by a fourth conical compartment on which it is mounted is a third fluid-tight circular compartment, in the form of an intermediate conical annulus below the compartment provided in accordance with (2). The said third fluid-tight compartment therefore contains only air, since it is hermetically closed, and the vertical water-rising tubes, as also the tube protecting the resistor. The envelope of air around the said tube increases the speed at which the water rises and produces a better flow for the sprinkling of the linen, the said flow being regulated in the concentration chamber provided as stated above.

(4) Finally, the lower part of the apparatus consists of a frusto-conical compartment, the large base of which serves as a support and the small base of which surrounds, at an appropriate level, the lower part of the internal conical compartment provided, according to (1), on its periphery. The said compartment, which is in the form of a funnel open at the bottom, thus protects the turns of the heating resistor and has the object of directing the heated water towards the water-raising tubes, as also of protecting the linen from the turns, while enabling any rotating heating device provided to operate effectively for agitating the water and at the same time the linen surrounding the device.

The said four compartments are disposed one above the other and secured in fluid-tight fashion by welding, as also the water-raising tubes and the protecting tube of the resistor, only the insulated sleeve of the latter being fixed, if desired, in a detachable manner so that it can be readily removed.

The conical base of the lower periphery may be disposed directly or indirectly on the base of the washing machine. periphery with orifices in order that the washing water may penetrate into the interior of the lower part of the device, and in the second case, for example to allow for the use of an agitator, legs may be provided, by

In the first case, it is necessary to form the means of which the device is raised slightly above the base of the washing machine during the washing.

The vertical tubes for raising the water by the thermosiphon effect open into the said lower chamber and are distributed radially around the periphery below the compartment according to (3), and the protecting tube oi the resistor is disposed therebetween. The latter tube could readily also et'ect the raising of the water in the of high pressure, zvh reby the operating safety of the ratus is increased.

The upper orifices for the evolution of steam emanating from the lower part above the water level are formed on the one hand in the periphery of the internal cone and on the other hand in the periphery of the protecting tube of the electric resistor, so that the raising tubes permit the air to escape when the device is immersed in the water.

The casing of the device divided into compartments may be of plastic material, metal or other material.

The turns of the electric heating resistor may also be vertically adjustable, it being sufiicient to replace the insulating washer provided around the current feed sleeve by another washer, the thickness of which is appropriate for the desired height of adjustment in the type of washing machine employed.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings the numeral 1 is an internal conical compartment, to which there may be fitted the agitator of the washing machine or a strap serving as a handle. 2 is a ring-shaped conical compartment fitting around the compartment 1 in the upper part thereof and forming a pressure chamber, from which water is projected through orifices D. 5 is a ring shaped conical compartment situated below the compartment 2 and also extending around the compartment 1. The compartment 3 is separated from the two compartments 2 and 4 by fluid-tight walls which prevent access of water into the compartment 3. Extending through the said compartment 3 from the bottom upwards are the tubes K and P, which conduct the water from the compartment 4- to the compartment 2, the said compartment 3 being hermetically closed and containing only air. 4- is a compartment in the form of an inverted funnel protecting the heating resistance and directing the heated water to the tubes K and F and protecting the linen from the coiled resistor G.

The letter A indicates the periphery of the casing. B indicates the cover and B the base of the compartment 2. C the conical periphery of the element 1 and C the fluid-tight cover thereof. D are orifices formed around the compartment 4 for the admission of the Washing water for feeding the thermo-siphon. D are orifices formed around the compartment 2 for the delivery of the sprinkling water. E is an insulated terminal for the supply of electric current to the heating resistor P for the horizontal turns G. H is a grip. l a perforation in the compartment 1 giving access to the compartment 2 for the exhaust air when the heater is immersed in the water and, in the course of the heating, to the water and to the steam between the compartment 1 and the compartment 2. I is an orifice in the, protecting rising tube F having the same function as the orifices I in the compartment 1, that is to say, to enable the air to escape when the ieater is immersed in the water and to ensure circulation of water and steam coming from the lower part through the tube P towards the high-pressure compartment 2 of the body of the apparatus. K are tubes for raising water and steam, thus also ensuring the escape of the air during the immersion. L is an inspection plug. M is a detachable handling hook. N is a strap for temporarily securing the hooked grip H.

it is to be understood that the number of orifices shown at D, D, I and l, as also the number of rising tubes K are determined in each form of construction by the designer and the same is the case with the power i it) to be provided for the electric resistor, without departing from the scope of the invention.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a certain particular preferred example, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the principle of the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed is:

1. In an immersion water heater comprising an electric heating resistor for use in a conventional washing machine of the domestic type, a device comprising four compartments, the body of said device having two concentric compartments forming two bells which are fitted one into the other and turned with their common ringshaped base forming a cover, the internal open compartment extending upwardly and closing in the form of a dome its upper end serving as means for raising the apparatus or for centering an agitator, and means for communicating steam and discharging air when the device is immersed in water.

2. In an immersion water heater comprising an electric heating resistor for use in a conventional washing machine of the domestic type, a device comprising four compartments, the body of said device having two concentric compartments forming two bells which are fitted one into the other and turned with their common ringshapcd base forming a cover, there being formed in the upper part of the ring-shaped compartment of the device a compartment for concentrating and regulating the pressure of the hot water and of the steam fed through vertical tubes rising from the bottom of the device, the said compartment comprising in its periphery sprinkling orifices situated at a suitable level so that the projected er falls onto the material to be washed, in the course of the washing, while the heating producing the thermosiphon effect raises the water and the steam feeding the upper compartment of the said compartment through orifices above the level of the sprinkling orifices in the periphery of the first internal compartment, the said upper concentrating compartment being partitioned laterally by the t'rusto-conical periphery of the casing, at the top by the cover and at the bottom by a base, both of which are in the form of concentric rings horizontal during use, a tube for protecting the resistance being introduced vertically from the top downwards and the Water-raising tubes being open at a certain level in the said compartment.

3. ln immersion heater according to claim 2, wherein there is provided between the last-mentioned compartment and the base of the device constituted by a fourth conical compartment a third fluid-tight circular compartment which takes the form of an intermediate conical ring and contains only air and the water-raising tubes, as also the protecting tube of the resistor.

4. in an immersion heater according to claim 2, wherein the frusto-conical base compartment serves to support the device and the small base thereof surrounds at an appropriate level the inner conical compartment, the said compartment protecting the heating turns and permitting rotation of a beating device, the periphery being formed with a plurality of openings to permit the water to penetrate and to rise in the device.

5. In an immersion heater according to claim 4, wherein the vertical water-raising tubes and the tube protecting the resistance are distributed radially and the number thereof as also the power of the resistor are determined in accordance with the type of washing ma- 5 chine to be equipped, said four compartments being dis- References Cited in the file of this patent posed one above the other and said tubes being secured UNITED STATES PATENTS together 1n fluld-tlght fashlon, but the said insulated 1,470,834 Hasselbach Oct. 1923 sleeve of the resistor being detachable, the heating turns being vertically adjustab1e Dunharn 

